Panthers look to bounce back against Warriors in Magic Round clash

Rugby League

NRL, MAGIC ROUND, MAY 6th, 2023 NZ WARRIORS v PENRITH PANTHERS

SUNCORP STADIUM,BRISBANE

It’s seventh up against eighth when the Panthers and Warriors lock horns in the first of three Magic Round games on Saturday.

Penrith have found the going tough at stages this season and are coming off back-to-back defeats for the first time in two years after losing to the Rabbitohs and Tigers.

The Panthers were on the wrong end of the upset of the season last week, suffering a 12-8 defeat to the last-placed Tigers in Bathurst.

The four-point margin was the biggest defeat of the season for the Panthers so far and they will be determined to produce a statement performance here.

James Fisher-Harris returns for the Panthers in a big boost to their forward pack.

Meanwhile, the Warriors could be running on fumes as they prepare for their third game in 11 days after losing to the Storm in Melbourne and Roosters in Auckland. A road trip to Brisbane against the two-time reigning premiers will prove another tough assignment.

Like the Panthers, the Warriors suffered their biggest losing margin of the season last week, failing to trouble the scoreboard in a 14-0 defeat.

Warriors team:

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Dylan Walker 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Bayley Sironen 15. Josh Curran 16. Demitric Sifakula 17. Tom Ale 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Viliami Vailea 22. Ronald Volkman 23. Kalani Going

Panthers team:

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Jack Cogger 19. Luke Garner 20. Thomas Jenkins 21. Spencer Leniu 22. Chris Smith

Panthers have won the last six meetings between the teams

Warriors have lost five of their last six games at Suncorp

Panthers have won four of the last five meetings by 13+ margins

Panthers have scored 30+ points in their last three wins vs Warriors

Brian To’o has scored five tries in his last three games vs Warriors

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has scored six tries in his last six games vs Panthers

PREDICTION.

The Panthers will be upset at losing the last two games and will get their season back on track here. Panthers by 10 points.

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